The Queen Who Crowns – K-drama Episode 1 Recap & Review

Episode 1 

Episode 1 of The Queen Who Crowns opens with a string of rebellions, culminating in Lady Min’s ascension as Queen Won-gyeong. She’s widely celebrated as the force behind King Yi Bang-won’s rise, having metaphorically donned him in armor and urged him to rebel against his father’s decision to appoint his brother as the successor. This rebellion, however, led to Bang-won killing his brother, earning the lasting hatred of his father, who now plots revenge.

Following the coronation, the palace comes alive with music and dance. The King overhears his brothers-in-law jesting about how Won-gyeong would have made a better ruler if she had been born a man. Their laughter underscores Bang-won’s reliance on his wife, a point of contention for his fragile ego.

Meanwhile, in another city, Won-gyeong’s spies uncover murmurs of doubt among the commoners about the King’s legitimacy on the throne. As anxiety grips Bang-won, Won-gyeong reassures him, reminding him of their shared triumph in usurping the throne. Elsewhere, former King Tae-jo schemes to exact revenge.

A subplot reveals that a servant girl, once in the service of the Queen Dowager, has been raising the King’s child and heir. She meets with the official Ha-ryun to relay this news, adding another layer of intrigue.

On the day of the royal consummation, assassins ambush the King and Queen. Rather than leaving the fight to Bang-won, Won-gyeong fiercely defends them both, saving the King’s life multiple times. The following day, Bang-won reflects on his strained relationship with his father, particularly the betrayal that led to the rebellion. He also begins to feel the weight of his indebtedness to Won-gyeong’s family and becomes increasingly aware of her assertiveness.

Won-gyeong later meets the prince and insists on handling the situation with the former king herself. However, Bang-won undermines her authority by unilaterally deciding to bring Yeong-sil into the palace, humiliating her role as Queen Consort. When Won-gyeong confronts him, Bang-won coldly reminds her that she is now his subject, stripping her of their former equality.

On the night of another royal consummation, Bang-won pointedly leaves the chamber, abandoning Won-gyeong. The episode concludes with the King taking Won-gyeong’s close servant as a concubine and spending the night with her, a deliberate act of emotional and social humiliation.

The Episode Review

The Queen Who Crowns wastes no time delving into its central conflicts, setting the stage for the power dynamics that will define the series. This episode reveals a dramatic shift in the relationship between Won-gyeong and Bang-won.

Their partnership, once evocative of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth in its shared ambition and equality, begins to crumble under the weight of Bang-won’s insecurities. He systematically seeks to suppress Won-gyeong’s influence, reducing her from an equal to a subject and publicly humiliating her to reinforce her inferiority.

Won-gyeong is positioned as a fascinating feminist figure in this historical narrative. Her intelligence, capability, and assertiveness far outshine her husband’s, making her a target of his attempts to dominate her emotionally and physically. The episode portrays themes of gendered power struggles, adding a refreshing layer to the sageuk genre.

Overall, The Queen Who Crowns promises to be an intriguing exploration of power, ambition, and identity.